From unique hand-crafted jewellery to stunning paintings, art supplies and mouth-watering cakes and hot chocolates, the Art Studio and Ten2 Gallery and Art Café is one of the town’s most diverse businesses.

Nestled alongside some of Hinckley’s most wonderful independents at the top of Castle Street, the Art Studio and Ten2Gallery (named because it’s based at 102 Castle Street) also happens to be one of the town’s longest-running businesses.

First launched in 1989 by Rose Allinson, the Studio was a huge hit with customers, and quickly grew from strength-to-strength. In 2003, Linda Flower opened up the ever-popular café, based above the Art Studio, to showcase some of the beautiful designs of art for sale.

Here, we settle down to chat with Rose and Linda as we make the Art Studio and Ten2 Gallery and Art Café our Wonderful Hinckley Business of the Month.

If you’d like to star in our Business of the Month, then please email wonderfulhinckley@gmail.com - we’d love to hear from you!

What’s your full name, and how long have you been running the art studio Ten2 and the Art Cafe for?

I’m Rose Allinson, I opened in 1989, then moved to Castle Street in 2001. We opened the café, run by Linda Flower, in 2003, then we started running classes in 2005.

What’s your typical day like?

Rose : No day is really the same! Shop sales, advising on art materials, showing people the jewellery, picture framing. Then I could be teaching in the classroom, painting or drawing.

Linda : In the café, I’m chatting, chatting, chatting to the customers. I like to talk! However, my wonderful staff and I do provide wonderful drinks, sandwiches, cakes etc that the customers really appreciate.

Why do you love what you do?

Rose : I’ve been here since 1989, so you can assume I do quite like what I do! It’s all about the variety of customers you get in. Over the years, I’ve seen different people develop their art, go off to college, and then come back with children of their own. We offer the whole package here – you can come to learn, socialise and meet new, like-minded people, or go to the café.

Linda : The variety, you never know who will walk up those stairs. Every week, we get at least one person saying, “I never knew you were here”. Since we opened the café in 2003, I have had the privilege to be part of so many peoples’ lives and stories on many different levels.

What made you decide to start your own business?

Rose : I’d been working for myself and gone into teaching. I had always taught evening classes, and it seemed to be the right time to launch. It developed from there, especially when Linda opened the café. We continued to grow, and now we’ve got a variety of teachers who have their own specialisms – pastels, life drawing, acrylics, botanical, and even singing classes.

Linda : We opened as a gallery initially, with artists working up there, but we felt people were reluctant to come up the stairs into the unknown. Opening the café gave them a purpose to stay, sales of pictures increased too as people were browsing while relaxing with a drink. Because of the gallery / café layout, you can imagine being in your own home.

Rose Allinson and Linda Flower

What are your best sellers?

Rose : I wouldn’t say we have a bestseller as such since we offer everything. People might just come in for a coffee, a piece of jewellery, or a £250 picture frame. There’s a lot of variety to sales.

Linda : Best sellers do vary in the café as it depends what we have on our specials board. However, prawn and crab and then Coronation chicken sandwiches are definitely near the top. Hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows in the winter, a cold glass of wine or beer in summer.

What’s your biggest achievement so far?

Rose : Being in business for 28 years! There’s been a whole lot of changes, especially with the internet. A lot of other businesses have come and gone, but what we offer is good value, good quality, and knowledge.

Linda : How we have diversified over the years to remain in business. There are now so many eateries in the town that we have to constantly look at new things to try. We have very many loyal customers to which we are very grateful, and they walk up the hill to the top of town to come to us – even if they are slightly out of breath!

What’s your advice for someone wanting to start their own business?

Rose : Define your market. It’s much easier to start a business now – all you need is a camera and the internet! But like or love what you are doing, be prepared to work lots of hours, be prepared to not have much money when starting out, but stick with it.

Linda: Be aware that it’s not always easy, but if you have the passion to succeed, then go for it! At the end of the day, there are advantages to being your own boss!

What’s your favourite thing about Hinckley?

Rose : I think this end of Castle Street has lots of wonderful independent shops, we all support each other.

Linda : I like the fact that Hinckley has a number of well-established independent businesses, especially at the top end of town. Sometimes, people forget. However, if they make the effort, they find that there are some little gems!

Tell us something we wouldn’t know about you…

Rose : After being here that long, I think everyone knows everything about me!

Linda : In my former life, I was a qualified nurse, social worker and family therapist. I think those skills transferred well to café life as it is today.

Where can people find you?

They can pop into the shop at the top of Castle Street, or visit http://www.ten2gallery.co.uk/, or email rose@ten2gallery.co.uk. You can also find us at www.facebook.com/Ten2Gallery on Facebook.